Breaking Lease Due Disability

Summary

Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, landlords must make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities. A tenant can break a lease without penalty if they can no longer live independently due to a disability. Documentation, such as a letter from a healthcare provider, is typically required. To proceed, write a formal request to your landlord, explaining the situation and attaching the necessary documentation. If denied, consider consulting local legal advice or filing a complaint with HUD or a local fair housing agency.

Full Conversation

I am trapped in lease for an apartment that I have not lived in since December. I have found multiple tenants to replace my contract but none have been approved by the landlord corporate. I have a disability that prevents me from living on my own.
Hello ****, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Under the Federal Fair Housing Act:
- Landlords must make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities.
- A tenant can break a lease without penalty if they can no longer live independently due to a disability.
You might consider contacting a local legal aid organization for further guidance.
Does said disability have to be documented?
Yes, ****. Typically, you would need to provide some form of documentation to prove your disability. This could be a letter from a doctor or other healthcare provider. These laws vary, so please consult local legal advice.
How would I approach using the federal fair housing act to break my lease?
To use the Federal Fair Housing Act to break a lease due to disability:
- Collect documentation of your disability (doctor's letter, etc.)
- Write a formal request to your landlord explaining the situation.
- Consult local legal advice to ensure you are following Utah law.
- If denied, consider filing a complaint with HUD or a local fair housing agency.
Could you give me an example of the letter I would write detailing the situation?
Sure, here's a basic sample:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip]
[Date]
[Landlord's Name]
[Landlord's Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Dear [Landlord's Name],
I am writing to formally request to break my lease at [your address], due to a disability which prevents me from living independently. As per the Federal Fair Housing Act, landlords are obliged to make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities.
Attached, please find the necessary documentation of my disability.
I hope we can resolve this matter amicably.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]